Houston names Walker starting QB

“It’s the loudest stadium I have ever played in that holds under probably 40,000 people,” Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker recently said about TDECU Stadium on the University of Houston's campus.

He is all too familiar entering the stadium as the opponent, from his college playing days with the Temple Owls. Now, Walker will be on the cheering side of the rambunctious fans inside TDECU Stadium.

The Roughnecks announced Wednesday that he will be the starting quarterback for the 2020 season.

Walker isn't taking the news for granted.

“Just the ability to have the opportunity to be the starting quarterback and to have the opportunity to have a lot of faith in me as a football player and as a person as well it was exciting.” Walker said about securing the starting job.

He also knows how different the offense head coach June Jones has implemented will be.

“I'm an undersized QB so I'm always going to carry a chip on my shoulder. I am always going to walk on the field like I am the best player on the field. I don’t care who else is on the field with me, that’s just my mentality.”

Roughnecks QB P.J. Walker

“Just to be around a whole bunch of new people, coming from the pro-style system to a straight-out, Run ‘n’ Shootsystem is a lot different," he said. "Especially with the fact that I was under center a lot in my career and now i'm in the shotgun a lot.”

The 5-foot-11 Walker has been underestimated his entire career, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on his playing style.

“I'm an undersized QB so I'm always going to carry a chip on my shoulder. I am always going to walk on the field like I am the best player on the field,” Walker said about his attitude under center. “I don’t care who else is on the field with me, that’s just my mentality.”

Walker admits he has learned a lot over the past few years with the biggest advantage being relaxing and taking it all in. “The whole game has slowed down for me so that’s a benefit as well,” he said.

Walker and the Roughnecks kick off the 2020 regular season Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. CT when they host the Los Angeles Wildcats. The game can be seen on FOX.